The Fall of the House of Usher had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. The limited series comprises eight episodes, and the first two premiered at the festival. Creator Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass) directs four episodes, and Michael Fimognari directs the others. The first two episodes were engaging and… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023 Review: The Fall of the House of Usher debuts on Netflix on October 12
Category: MAIN
Fantastic Fest 2023: The Wait (La Espera)
The Wait (La Espera) had the North American premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas, after world premiering at the Oldenburg Film Festival. The film is by director/screenwriter F. Javier Gutiérrez (Before the Fall, Rings) and is set in Spain in the 1970s. It has a Western genre feel, with wealthy ranchers and the staff… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: The Wait (La Espera)
Fantastic Fest 2023: TOTALLY KILLER
For the closing night feature of this year’s Fantastic Fest, the programmers selected a fun and exciting movie that combines time travel and slasher horror. Totally Killer is more comedic than frightening but is nevertheless a very amusing ride. The film blends the humor of Back to the Future and the horror tropes of slashers… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: TOTALLY KILLER
Fantastic Fest: Totally Killer – Totally Fun
Featured as the closing film of Fantastic Fest 2023, ‘Totally Killer’ director Nahnatchka Khan decently combines two fun genres into one delightful Halloween-appropriate movie. Feeling at times like ‘Back to the Future’ and at others, ‘Scream,’ ‘Totally Killer’ is exciting enough for adults and mild enough for older teens. Perhaps missing is a better soundtrack… Continue reading Fantastic Fest: Totally Killer – Totally Fun
Fantastic Fest featured Argentina’s When Evil Lurks and Now in Theaters
Fantastic Fest hosted two public screenings of When Evil Lurks by Argentina’s director/screenwriter Demián Rugna (Terrified, 2017). A story about possession in a remote area, this is a supernatural thriller that some of the audience may find shocking, and others will feel the hair on the back of the neck stand on end at times.… Continue reading Fantastic Fest featured Argentina’s When Evil Lurks and Now in Theaters
Texas, USA Documentary Now Available on Digital Platforms
Texas, USA is written and directed by Andrew Morgan and is his latest feature documentary. This film is about the fight for real and lasting change in Texas and beyond, featuring candidates and organizers who never give up on our democracy. The film showcases what it takes to fight for a stronger democracy through the… Continue reading Texas, USA Documentary Now Available on Digital Platforms
THE BURIAL
Director and co-writer Maggie Betts’ film, The Burial, is an inspirational courtroom drama with some humorous moments most likely never seen in an episode of “Perry Mason” on television or the film To Kill a Mockingbird. Betts (The Novitiate, 2017) and award-winning playwright Doug Wright co-wrote the adapted screenplay from Jonathan Harr’s article “The Burial,”… Continue reading THE BURIAL
Fantastic Fest 2023: PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES Raises One Important Question
One question remains for those familiar with the lore of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary. Why would anyone use the power of the burial ground if they already know the results are evil? I had hoped that this prequel installment would include the answer to this question, but alas, this was not the case. Even though… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2023: PET SEMATARY: BLOODLINES Raises One Important Question
‘Reptile’ – A Tense Thriller That Slithers Away from Its Promise
The opening moments of “Reptile” are undeniably riveting, setting the stage for an enticing murder mystery anchored by Benicio del Toro’s character, Detective Tom Nichols. However, before we delve into the film’s merits and drawbacks, it’s necessary to dispel any initial misconceptions about the “reptilian” title. Contrary to what one might assume, ‘Reptile’ is not… Continue reading ‘Reptile’ – A Tense Thriller That Slithers Away from Its Promise
THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Attempts The Impossible
After attempting to deliver sequels to Halloween (1978), filmmakers David Gordon Green and Danny McBride tried to do the same with The Exorcist franchise. Though their Halloween installments met mixed reactions, the filmmakers remained undaunted in their attempt to enrich the cinematic world, first launched by writer William Peter Blatty and director William Friedkin in… Continue reading THE EXORCIST: BELIEVER Attempts The Impossible